Prayer Letters
Graham & Frieda's Update
Christmas & New Year Greetings from Graham & Frieda
December 2007
Our dear friends,
First things first … we wish you and your family a truly blessed Christmas and a New Year filled with praise and adoration of our great Saviour and King.
I hope you are as encouraged as we are, reflecting briefly on God’s loving ways in our lives throughout 2007. What we cannot miss are the many touches of His kind and sovereign hand upon our lives, each day, including those days when we least felt His touch.
Join us for a few minutes as we share with you some highlights from our 2007 personal and family diaries, as well as some plans for 2008.
From our 2007 family records …
- Alison & Andrew, with Grace (almost 3 and doing very well), & Timothy (1 & a bit!) … still in Indonesia but in the new year they will be moving back to Sydney, to live about 15 mins drive from our home.
- David & Janette, with Freya (4 going on 10! J) … 2007 has been a year of transition … for David, the happy transition to working most days from home as a computer programmer (avoiding the grind of 3+ hrs train travel daily); for Janette, stepping out by faith, leaving her full-time paid employment to become full-time mum … and next year a home-schooling mum.
- Scott & Suzy, with Zach (10), Joel (7) and Daniel (almost 5) … Scott still flying high as a pilot, based in Los Angeles, while Suzy keeps her feet on the ground, enjoying the challenge of casual teaching in the boys’ primary school … both doing the usual “run-around stuff” for 3 busy, energetic sons!
- Elizabeth & Dave, with Jackson (their pussy!) … for them a year of new beginnings: beginning married life on April 1, then beginning a new adventure together with a major move to UK in Sept. … looking ahead to David’s theological studies, hopefully beginning in Sept. 2008.
From our 2007 personal diaries …
- Good health … Even if we are now 66, by God’s grace we still have plenty of “get-up-and-go”!
- A comfortable home … A two-bedroom, roomy apartment, set in very pleasant surroundings. Every day we see & hear beautiful Australian birds. We also enjoy walking instead of driving to the shops and public transport, also walk to church. We don’t use our car all that much!
- Great family times … This year we thoroughly enjoyed being all together over Dave & Elizabeth’s wedding weekend. We’ve also visited Dave, Janette & Freya or they’ve visited us. Three times we visited Ali, Andrew and children. And we’ll be spending Christmas this year with Scott, Suzy and boys.
- Faithful friends … Friends who love us by supporting and encouraging us in different ways. How thankful we are to everyone who has spoken or written words that have strengthened our hearts and our faith. Thank YOU!
From our 2007 ministry travel journals …
- February:
- Consultation with our Indonesian publisher, plus family visit
- June-August:
- Visits with some of our German relatives, supporters and prayer partners
- Ministries in Czech Republic with God’s servants (Czech and “foreign”), and in a progressive, mission-minded church
- Bible teaching and encouragement ministries to missionaries in Prague and Southern Poland
- September-November:
- Visits with Korean friends in Seoul
- Ministries in Russia to Bible School students, mission workers, national mission trainees, and God’s people in two local churches
- Ministries in Indonesia to Christian high school & university students
From our book entries …
- Throughout 2007, we have rejoiced to witness steady progress in the distribution and sale of our English title, UNITED IN MARRIAGE BY ONE LORD …
- 1,000 copies went to OM’s mission ship, MV DOULOS
- Our book can now be purchased via www.amazon.co.uk , www.authenticmedia.co.uk, www.amazon.com, and www.koorong.com.au
- We have received some encouraging feedback from different readers, e.g. “In your book, I was so impressed withyour portrayal of God's love and concern for us. That came across real big to me. I always like to be assured of that.Your book made mewant to knowour great God and Savior better andbetter. You have done a great job of helping us to know how important it is to be united in Him when we marry.”
- In July 2007 we took part in the launch of the Indonesian edition, entitled KAWIN CAMPUR dan CAMPUR TANGAN TUHAN …
- After reading our book several young Indonesian believers have written with their request for more counsel
- Through the help of a senior airline official God made it possible to carry 50 kilos of overweight = 300 copies of our Indonesian book, for distribution among Indonesian believers in Australia.
- September 25 was another milestone date … on this day we met with the director of a large Chinese Christian publishing house in Hong Kong (at the Int’l Airport) to sign the contract to translate and publish our book in Chinese … Less than 2 months later, the translator wrote enthusiastically saying she had already finished her work!
- God is presently stirring up interest to make our book available in a number of other languages
From our notes for 2008 …
- Keeping in close contact with our children and grandchildren
- Working hard to stay healthy through a disciplined life-style
- Hoping to get going with more writing projects
- Exploring new ways to raise the awareness among God’s people for our book(s). Check other parts of our website.
- Assisting several translators of our book, plus negotiating with publishers
- Letting God use us in whatever way He chooses within / through our home church in Sydney
- Continuing our daily correspondence ministry to God’s people / servants around the world
- Holding marriage & family seminars in Indonesian churches in several Australian capital cities
- Sharing on marriage & family topics in Australian churches
- Visiting family members
- Teaching pastors/church leaders on “Church Renewal & Revival” at an Evangelical Theological Seminary in Indonesia
- Attending the Hong Kong Book Fair in July for the launch of our book’s Chinese edition
- Encouraging God’s servants through writing the occasional reflection paper on ministry & marriage / family topics
- Experiencing the never-ending joys, delights and challenges of married life
From God’s everlasting Word …
“The LORD will guide you continually, watering your life when you are dry, and keeping you healthy, too. You will be like a well-watered garden, like an ever-flowing spring.” (Isaiah 58:11) May God keep renewing us throughout 2008 so that we daily radiate His life, love and light to others.
Yours because HIS,
Graham & Frieda